The palace walls reflect history, and the tiles hold charm: the legendary coexistence of civilizations at the "Royal Alcázar of Seville"
When the Andalusian sunlight filters through the carved arcades of the Royal Alcázar of Seville, casting interlaced shadows on the glazed tiles, I suddenly understood why this place was chosen as the "Water Palace" of Dorne in the globally popular TV series Game of Thrones in recent years—every step treads the boundary between reality and legend, where a millennium of time condenses into a magnificent and profound dialogue of civilizations.
As the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use, this architectural treasure, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987, carries the most moving history of cultural fusion in Spain.
In 913 AD, the Moors laid the first cornerstone here. Originally a sturdy military fortress, it has been continuously rewritten with new chapters over the course of time. After the Christian kings reconquered Seville in 1248, they did not destroy the former Islamic buildings but instead added to them; during the reign of Pedro I, the Mudéjar style reached its peak, allowing the intricate Islamic carvings and the solemn Christian spirit to coexist perfectly.
I remember visiting Kaifeng this August to "seek Song," where I saw the not-yet-opened attraction "City upon City," six ancient cities stacked like thread-bound books. Yet this European palace fuses Moorish spirit with Renaissance, blending and flattening diverse living civilizations as a witness—every inch of its texture silently tells the millennium-old promise of "you in me, I in you."
Passing through the lintel adorned with lion-patterned glaze, the strong lines of Mudéjar architecture unexpectedly meet the soft curves of Renaissance ironwork. The walls covered with tile facings dazzle the eyes: geometric patterns and entwined plant vines interweave as if weaving the codes of two civilizations into one splendid tapestry.
Entering the "Courtyard of the Maidens," you step into the heart of this dialogue of civilizations. The elegant curves of the white marble arcades reflect on the clear water of the central pool; as the breeze passes, ripples break the light into thousands of golden flakes. Looking up at the dome, the intricate wood carvings amaze—every inch engraved with endlessly growing vines and flowers. Sunlight flows down through the carved gaps, and even the air seems soaked with the warmth of fusion—this is the harmonious dance of Moorish craftsmen’s rational order and Renaissance painters’ emotional colors, half ethereal and transcendent Islamic, half dignified and elegant European court.
The details of the "Palace of Pedro I" take one’s breath away: the plaster carvings are as light as clouds, with intertwined Arabic inscriptions and Christian symbols blending seamlessly. Running your fingers over the walls, you seem to touch the flowing veins of time. The gilded dome of the Ambassador’s Hall is exquisite—the huge dome tapers from base to top, covered with intricate gold and blue patterns. Standing in the hall, your voice is wrapped in a marvelous echo that slowly spreads, instantly conveying the awe felt by envoys from various countries in those days.
The most wonderful are the corner tiles: the blue glaze beloved by the Moors meets the bright Renaissance paintings, not clashing but harmonizing like musicians playing different parts in a symphony.
The "Royal Gardens" are the final surprise. Walking through maze-like paths, fountains and ponds murmur everywhere, harmonizing with crisp bird songs, instantly dispelling the heat of southern Europe. These water features inherit Islamic tradition, symbolizing the "Fountain of Life." Wandering among them, one truly feels the tranquility gently wrapped by nature and history.
At that moment, noisy calls come from the branches—a flock of red-collared green parrots, never seen before, perch atop the palm trees—they have lived here for a century, a vivid testament to the palace’s cultural inclusiveness. When one parrot pecks open a flower bud and turns its head, its emerald feathers shimmer in the sunlight, as if telling:
—History is never cold words in old books; this thousand-year-old royal palace has long since transformed under the bright sky into a tangible, perceptible, and deeply readable scroll of civilization.
Other visitors' reviews of Royal Alcázar of Seville
Show More ReviewsThe area is calm enough to explore with friends, family or solo. Enough space so you aren’t on top of other people. Cute shops and restaurants close by the area, next door to the cathedral.